Saudi Arabia Overturns Cinema Ban With Black Panther

Black Panther will break Saudi Arabia’s 35-year long cinema ban, becoming the first film publicly shown in theaters in the conservative Gulf kingdom since they were shuttered in the 1980s.

According to Hollywood reporters, The Marvel superhero film will receive a gala opening on April 18 in Saudi Arabia’s brand new AMC theatre in Riyadh.

Since opening in February, Black Panther has earned over $1.2 billion in global sales, making it the tenth highest-grossing film in history, according to Box Office Mojo. It also became the most-tweeted-about film ever, racking up 35 million.

It will be the first film to screen to the public in a movie theater in the country since it lifted a 35-year cinema ban.

The news makes Disney and its regional distribution partner in the Middle East, Italia Film, the first to officially release a movie in the kingdom as it undergoes dramatic reforms.

Black Panther will break Saudi Arabia’s 35-year long cinema ban, becoming the first film publicly shown in theaters.